Latygina N. Democracy: Essence, Mechanisms of Realization and Modern World Tendencies of Development.

The thesis gives a complex systems analysis of the theoretical-methodological and applied aspects of democracy as a political phenomenon.Theoretical sources of democracy are researched. Systems-relativity characteristics of political democracy are emphasized, in particular, basic signs, parameters of democracy and its qualitative potential i.e. advantages, values, disadvantages and levels of implementation are defined. Conceptual-methodological ways of democratization as a process of transition to democracy are substantiated. Prerequisites and favourable factors of society democratization, its ways and structural phases are defined. With the help of cross-regional comparison of democratic transformations the American democracy is analyzed; peculiarities and common features of democratization processes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in Ukraine and in the Islamic countries are described. The future of democracy challenges is characterized.